Testimonials
Too far, too close: Iranians face difficulties in mobilizing and communicating
Women shout slogans in support of Iranian women, in Barcelona, October 4, 2022. REUTERS - NACHO DOCE
Text by: RFI Follow
4 mins
For almost three weeks, despite the repression, Iranian men and women have been challenging the regime, making compulsory veiling for women a symbol of oppression.
Abroad, Iranians expatriates or in exile are also mobilizing: demonstrations, presence on social networks.
Between commitment to change and obstacles linked to distance.
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Mahya Ostovar has been involved in campaigns against compulsory veiling for eight years.
She now lives in Europe and it is from there that, alongside other activists from the “White Mondays” campaign, she is trying to take part in the protest.
These Iranian women abroad want to make the voice of their compatriots heard.
“
For us, it's probably easier to be their mouthpiece.
Because outside you have more freedom, free internet access.
You often speak other languages, such as English or French.
You can answer interviews.
These are things that are difficult for people to do in the interior of the country.
»
Megaphone
But internet blockages make communications with Iran complicated.
And the veracity of the information coming from the field is difficult to establish, continues Mahya Ostovar: “
We try to verify as far as possible by different sources.
For example, if you know someone in this town, ask them if something really happened.
But I know that in some cases it's not that easy.
And we've seen videos uploaded and then people said it wasn't in that city or not on that date.
»
Being a spokesperson is a job that Mahya Ostovar considers both important and somewhat derisory.
For the young woman, the real commitment is that of the Iranians who remained in the country.
On the spot, many fear to express themselves.
This is the case of this young Iranian joined by
Nicolas Falez
, of the international service of RFI.
To contact her in Iran, you have to circumvent the internet restrictions that the government has put in place in recent days.
"
It's a complete blockage of Instagram and Whatsapp and these restrictions should not be lifted anytime soon
,
"
she said anonymously. She does not participate in the demonstrations, she has been supporting and observing the movement for almost three weeks .
“
It changes shape all the time.
One day in the streets, then in the universities, then in the schools... Nothing can be predicted.
Everyone I talk to is scared or lost.
We can't really know how it will all end.
»
A distant resonance
According to her, the reaction of the power is without surprise.
“
They repeat everything they have always said in comparable situations.
For example that this movement is encouraged by the United States and by England.
»
She also tells us of her astonishment at the reactions that this movement arouses in the world.
She tells us: “
It's not the first time that this kind of thing has happened in Iran, but it's the first time that it has resonated so far.
»
Almost three weeks after the death of the young Mahsa Amini, the last few days have seen Iranian schoolgirls in turn removing their headscarves in protest against the obligation imposed on women to wear this hijab in Iran.
►
Listen again: Mahsa Amini, symbol of the oppression of women in Iran
It is difficult to know the exact toll of the repression of the demonstrations.
Sixty dead, including 12 members of the security forces according to power;
at least 92 dead, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights.
■ French stars cut their hair
About fifty actresses and singers in France are mobilizing through a video on Instagram where they cut their hair in support of Iranian women, against the backdrop of the famous Italian song of revolt "Bella Ciao" in Persian version.
See this post on Instagram
A post shared by @marioncotillard
It is a call for freedom launched in front of the camera by Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotillard, the biggest French stars, but also Belgian like the singer Angèle or British like Charlotte Rampling and Jane Birkin.
Scissors in hand, they cut a lock of hair against the backdrop of
Bella Ciao
.
The Italian revolutionary song has gone viral in its Persian version recorded by a young Iranian woman, seen more than three million times on Twitter in the space of a few days.
"
She died for letting a few strands of hair
show", the text appears on the video where the actresses and singers affirm their indignation at the situation of women in Iran.
The French artistic community has only recently joined the protest movement, initiated with a platform signed by more than a thousand personalities of the 7th art, including male celebrities like Dany Boon or the general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival Thierry Fremaux.
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